Warning

THE number of drowning cases in the country is worrying. According to the Fire and Rescue Department, 303 cases were recorded in 2011 and 331 in 2010. In Pahang alone, 28 people drowned from 2008 until last January. The number of cases in other states is also alarming.

Beaches can and often provide a range of opportunities for community health and wellbeing. The beach offers social, environmental and physical health and fitness opportunities.

However, the beach also has hazards that can present a risk to the ill-informed, uneducated or those who may choose to ignore, disregard or who misjudge a situation.

The issues surrounding community/public safety have become of greater importance. However, the specifics of beach safety have not been addressed properly and public safety at the beach tend to be the forgotten issue while considerable attention is given to environment protection and others.

We need a strategy for safe beaches, free from drowning. It is not about stopping people from having fun or preventing them from being in, on, under and around water. We want them to be safe while doing so.

There are many factors which cause drowning, such as unrestricted and ready access to beaches, lack of knowledge and understanding of the water conditions, ignorance, disregard or misjudgment of hazardous water conditions, absence of constant visual supervision and, particularly, lack of awareness and education in water safety, personal survival and life-saving.

Beach safety and risk management strategies are crucial to ensure the reduction of death by drowning. The implementation of an effective risk management programme can reduce the incidence of death at our beaches.

It is the responsibility of those organisations, agencies and authorities with jurisdiction over beaches to identify, and preferably minimise, the risks of injury or death by drowning.

This responsibility is not sufficiently satisfied by installing signs or providing safety equipment.

We should advocate proper supervision of beaches and other water attractions, support legislation that requires the use of personal flotation devices to be worn at beaches and educate parents on the need for close supervision of children at beaches.

The time has come for all relevant agencies and authorities to beef up safety along all beaches throughout the country.

Apart from that, education on safe practices during water activities and making safe decisions about water-related activities and to appropriately manage water-related hazards are among the prevention strategies we can adopt.

PETALING JAYA: Bayer CropScience has teamed up with Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama), Nestle Malaysia and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) for a food-chain partnership project.

The long-term partnership project is aimed at improving the yield and quality of fruits, vegetables and rice in Malaysia.

He said the goal is to work with its partners along the entire value chain from seed to shelf to support sustainable production of high-quality fruits, vegetables and rice in the country.

"We are delighted to enter into this collaboration with Fama, Nestle and Niosh on the first-ever food-chain partnership in Malaysia," he said after a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between Bayer and the three parties here yesterday.

The initiative is a proactive approach to create demand for sustainable crop solutions, facilitating mutually beneficial business relationships and a proven concept with more than 240 projects in more than 30 countries.

With Fama, Bayer will work closely with its contract farmers and durian exporting growers, while for Nestle, Bayer will promote a sustainable integrated crop solution for its chilli growers and, in near future, for rice.

For Niosh, Bayer will continue its efforts to train growers and Niosh staff on the safe use of pesticides.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference here yesterday, Dittmar said Bayer Malaysia will invest RM200,000 a year in the food-chain partnership.

Meanwhile, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Chia Tee Yong said such partnership is important to ensure safe and sustainable food production for consumers.

Bayer CropScience is a global player with core compentencies in healthcare, agriculture and high-tech materials.

PETALING JAYA: Action will be taken against those responsible if negligence contributed to a shipping disaster in Labuan in July that resulted in five deaths, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said yesterday.

"Once we know what happened, action will be taken," he said at the Conference for Occupational Safety and Health in a shopping mall here

The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) had attributed the explosion and fire on board a methanol tanker to lightning.

DOSH deputy director-general (operations) Mohtar Musri, who was at the conference, said during the unloading of methanol from MISC ship Bunga Alpina to the Petronas methanol terminal on July 26, it was raining and there was lightning.

"When there is loading and unloading, there is bound to be vapour from the chemicals, and the vapour was what was struck by lightning, causing the explosion. The earthing mechanism was also not working that day."

On another matter, Dr Subramaniam urged employers to invest in occupational safety and health, saying it was an essential investment that would help increase their productivity and profitability. Bernama